U.S. patent number 7,819,830 [Application Number 11/511,307] was granted by the patent office on 2010-10-26 for knee brace with mechanical advantage closure system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Top Shelf Manufacturing, Inc.. Invention is credited to Craig J. Koloske, John M. Petlansky, Chad M. Sindel.
United States Patent |
7,819,830 |
Sindel , et al. |
October 26, 2010 |
Knee brace with mechanical advantage closure system
Abstract
An orthopedic knee orthosis having a closure unit with a pull
system that provides a mechanical advantage for applying
user-desired forces to the knee joint structures and yet permits
the knee joint to move within a range of motion during activity by
the user. A method of using the orthopedic knee orthosis by placing
the orthosis over a user's knee, wrapping the orthosis around the
user's knee, and tightening the orthosis to apply user-defined
forces to the knee joint structures.
Inventors: |
Sindel; Chad M. (Pleasant Hill,
CA), Koloske; Craig J. (Tracy, CA), Petlansky; John
M. (Tracy, CA) |
Assignee: |
Top Shelf Manufacturing, Inc.
(Tracy, CA)
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Family
ID: |
37856240 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/511,307 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2006 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20070060853 A1 |
Mar 15, 2007 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60712173 |
Aug 30, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
602/16; 602/26;
602/23; 128/882 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
5/0109 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
5/00 (20060101); A61F 5/58 (20060101); A61F
5/37 (20060101); A61M 21/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;602/16,26,61,62,36,38,40,27,30,4,5,28,29,19,20,23,60,65 ;62/63
;128/882 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bianco; Patricia M
Assistant Examiner: Hawthorne; Ophelia
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dickstein Shapiro LLP
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATION
This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application, No. 60/712,173, filed on Aug. 30, 2005, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent of the United States is:
1. An orthopedic knee orthosis, comprising: a body member
comprising an opening to receive a knee; and a closure unit mounted
on the body member, said closure unit further comprising: a first
connector member conforming to the shape of the knee, a second
connector member; and a single flexible pull member having a first
end and a second end and which passes through a first channel of
the first connector, then through a pivot channel of the second
connector, then through a second channel of the first connector;
wherein the first end and second end of the pull member are
connected to a same strap handle, such that, when tension is
applied to the flexible pull member via the strap handle, the body
member is tightened by action of a mechanical advantage between the
first connector member and the second connector member, wherein the
first connector member has at least one more channels than the
second connector member, and wherein the channels of the first
connector member and the at least one pivot channel of the second
connector member are positioned such that the flexible pull member
does not substantially overlap the body member opening.
2. The orthopedic knee orthosis of claim 1, wherein said flexible
pull member is operatively weaved through the channels of said
first connector member and the pivot channel of said second
connector member.
3. The orthopedic knee orthosis of claim 2, wherein said strap
handle receives a fastening means to hold said flexible pull member
in a tightened position determinable by a wearer.
4. The orthopedic knee orthosis of claim 3, wherein said fastening
means comprises a hook and loop material.
5. The orthopedic knee orthosis of claim 1, further comprising an
attaching member for securing the orthosis in a tightened
position.
6. The orthopedic knee orthosis of claim 5, wherein attaching
member comprises a hook and loop strap.
7. The orthopedic knee orthosis of claim 1, wherein said body
member further comprises at least one of neoprene, nylon, and
foam.
8. The orthopedic knee orthosis of claim 1, wherein said flexible
pull member comprises a cord.
9. The orthopedic knee orthosis of claim 1, wherein said flexible
pull member is made of a material comprising polyester and having a
braided configuration.
10. The orthopedic knee orthosis of claim 1, wherein the channels
of the first and second connectors are eyelets.
11. The orthopedic knee orthosis of claim 1, further comprising a
handle coupled to ends of the flexible pull member.
12. The orthopedic knee orthosis of claim 1, wherein said body
member further comprises at least one attaching member for securing
the body member to the knee.
13. A method of using an orthopedic knee orthosis for treatment of
a patella, comprising: placing an orthopedic knee orthosis over a
patient's knee, wherein said orthopedic knee orthosis comprises: a
body member conforming to the shape of a patient's knee comprising
an opening to receive the knee; and a closure unit mounted on the
body member, said closure unit further comprising: a first
connector member conforming to the shape of the knee; a second
connector member and a flexible pull member which passes through a
first channel of the first connector, then through a pivot channel
of the second connector, then through a second channel of the first
connector, wherein the first connector member has at least one more
channels than the second connector member, and wherein the channels
of the first connector member and the at least one pivot channel of
the second connector member are positioned such that such that the
flexible pull member does not substantially overlap the body member
opening; wrapping said body member around said patient's knee;
tightening the orthosis by pulling on the flexible pull member, and
securing said orthosis in a tightened position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a closure system for a knee
brace with an improved pull system to provide a mechanical
advantage for applying compression forces to the knee.
2. Description of the Related Art
Knee braces are commonly worn by patients for treatment of an
injury to the knee joint. Knee braces stabilize the joint to
control its lateral movement, while they limit joint flexion and/or
extension in an adjustable and controllable manner to prevent
recurrence of injury to the knee.
Various designs for knee braces are known in the art. A well-known
design employs adjustable support members, according to which
medial and/or lateral support pads are positioned adjacent to the
medial and lateral sides of the knee joint to provide comfort and
support to the user by stabilizing the knee joint against lateral
movement. However, lateral support by the pads require an
adjustable screw design to laterally adjust the position of the pad
relative the knee joint. This design necessitates using a tool to
rotatably adjust the screw members, which requires that the tool be
readily available to the user when readjustment of the setting of
the pad assembly is needed.
While many of the current knee brace designs provide a degree of
support to the knee joint, there is a need to provide an improved
knee brace which allows for simple and effective adjustment of the
brace. A knee brace which offers greater positive support to the
knee joint structures and yet permits the knee joint to move within
the normal range of motion during activity by the user is also
needed. There is also a demand for an economical knee brace that
can be conveniently used by a patient for a mechanical advantage in
exerting compression on the knee.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a closure unit for an orthopedic
knee brace that utilizes a closure mechanism comprising two
separate pieces working together to create a mechanical advantage
("compression-action") to complete the necessary function of the
brace. The mechanical advantage is achieved as the two separate
pieces work together through the force enacted from a single pull
handle. Preferably, the system may be affixed to a brace formed of
soft neoprene, nylon, or foam material, to anatomically fit around
the knee. The knee brace of the present invention may be used in
the treatment of patella subluxations and dislocations, chronic and
acute mal-tracking of patella, and patellofemoral pain and
dysfunctions, for example.
The closure unit is disposed on the brace and includes a first
connector member having a series of channels, and a second
connector member. An elongated flexible pull member is operatively
weaved around the series of channels to provide a mechanical force
advantage when tightened by the patient to draw the first connect
member and the second connect member against the patient's knee to
exert compression forces.
The elongated flexible pull member can comprise a cord such as a
polyester cord with an exterior braided configuration. The cord is
connected at its distal end to a strap handle, which can receive a
nap or hook material that can be appropriately positioned, for
example, on the lateral side of the knee brace, so that a patient
who pulls the cord to tighten the knee brace can then secure it at
a desired compression.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent when the following detailed description is read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front layout view of the knee brace of the present
invention; and
FIG. 2 is a view of the knee brace of the present invention as it
would appear when wrapped around a patient's knee.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following description is provided to enable any person skilled
in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best
modes contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their
invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily
apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles
of the present invention have been defined herein to specifically
provide an knee orthosis with an improved pull system to apply
compression forces.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of knee brace or
orthosis 100 which permits a patient to provide compressive forces
about his/her knee by simply pulling and removably fastening a
fastener member 4 to a surface portion of the orthosis.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, a closure unit 6 is provided on side 11
of the orthosis 100. Closure unit 6 includes a first connector
member 8 and a second connector member 10. In an exemplary
embodiment, the first connector member 8 and the second connector
member 10 are provided on body member 50 that wraps around and
conforms to the shape of a patient's knee. Body member 50 may
comprise neoprene, nylon or foam material, for example, to
anatomically fit around the knee.
The orthosis may be provided with separate straps or attaching
members 60, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The straps 60 may be, for
example, hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro.TM. brand straps)
attached to body member 50 to allow engagement of the orthosis 100
and to further secure member 50 to the patient's knee. The straps
can be appropriately secured in position by securing the free ends
of the straps to the orthosis 100.
Referring to FIG. 1, and in accordance with an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, the closure unit 6 includes a C-shaped
first connector member 8. In a preferred embodiment, connector
member 8 is provided with channels 33. Although FIG. 1 illustrates
only two channels 33 through connector member 8, it must be
understood that the invention contemplates a closure unit having
any number of channels on the connector member.
Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is an elongated flexible member or cord
30, which can be formed from a polyester material having an
exterior braided surface to thereby provide a low friction, but
strong, pull member. The cord member 30 slides within a single
pivot channel 35 in second connector member 10 and in channels 33
in first connector member 8 to thereby reduce the friction of a
normal brace, while also providing a mechanical advantage or force
multiplier when the cord 30 is pulled by the patient.
The cord 30 is connected at its end to a strap handle 4. The user,
by pulling upon the strap, can then employ a mechanical advantage,
via cord 30 and the channels 33 to pull the respective first
connector member 8 and second connector member 10 together to
provide a compressive force on the knee. The strap can then be
appropriately secured in position by securing the free end of the
strap to the orthosis.
The ability of the cord 30 to slide with low friction within the
channels 33 provides a relatively compact efficient mechanical
advantage without requiring additional moving parts such as pulleys
or posts. Thus, a relatively economical and compact adjustable knee
orthosis with an improved closure unit is provided.
The above description and drawings illustrate preferred embodiments
which achieve the objects, features and advantages of the present
invention. It is not intended that the present invention be limited
to the illustrated embodiments, but rather only by the appended
claims.
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